I’ve been a fan of Hip Hop duos since I’ve been a fan of the culture altogether. It was a fascination to see the chemistry of guys like Run-DMC, Jalil & Ecstacy (Whodini), and EPMD, among others, operating as one on wax. When Hip Hop shifted to the South, the admiration grew due to me being a southerner and becoming a fan of duos, UGK, and 8Ball & MJG. Let’s talk about the aforementioned and their national debuts, Too Hard to Swallow and Comin’ Out Hard, respectively.
UGK’s Too Hard to Swallow hit the streets in 1992. The stakes were high for the Port Arthur, Texas natives. Fellow Texans, Geto Boyz, had already put the state on Hip Hop’s radar with hit, “Mind Playing Tricks on Me.” However, they represented Houston, a recognizable city. Port Arthur wasn’t as notable. But that would all change courtesy of Pimp C and Bun B.
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As Wikipedia states, “The American crack epidemic was a surge of crack cocaine use in major cities across the United States between the early 1980s and the early 1990s.” Rappers from major cities rapped about it, however, tracks like “Pocket Full of Stones,” “Short Texas,” and “Cocaine in the Back of the Ride” reminded us that small towns in between weren’t exempt.
Compared to UGK’s later releases, it’s apparent Pimp had not hone his craft as a producer nor did he and Bun’s emcee-skills reached it’s pinnacle. However, the potential for greatness was there.
Too Hard to Swallow, which features the hit, “Tell Me Something Good” charted at 37 and 14 on Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and Heatseekers Albums, respectively.
8Ball & MJG’s Comin’ Out Hard dropped the following year. Hailing from Memphis TN, a city deeply rooted in Blues, Ball and ‘G were assigned the tough task of garnering Hip Hop fans to Beale street. Like Bun and Pimp, they did it loudly and proudly in their national debut.
Comin’ Out Hard features some classic bangers such as “9 Little Millimeta Boys,” “Armed Robbery,” and the album’s title track. In addition, it features “Mr. Big,” one of the best hood stories told in form of rap.
Comin’ Out Hard peaked at the number 40 spot on US Billboard 200.
If you’re a fan of duos and Southern Hip Hop, Too Hard to Swallow and Comin’ Out Hard should be in your CD collection.
RIP Pimp C
UGK’s ‘Too Hard to Swallow’ or 8Ball & MJG’s ‘Comin’ Out Hard’?
[Polls Are Closed!]
8Ball & MJG – Comin’ Out Hard – 71%
UGK – Too Hard to Swallow – 29%